Packing device



\ May 31, 1927- A, BRECKON PACKING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m. k m 0 5 7m N MD M w r NA Yr 1 A May 31,1927. Y 1,631,004

. W. A. BRECKON PACKIQNG DEVICE Fi 1ed April 16, 1926 2 Sheetsheet '2 12v VENTOR W11 1 mm A. Bracken lay/W w Patented May 31, 1927.

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:Pacxrne DEVICE.

Application filed 54111116, 1926. .SeriaI'No; 102,476.

The main'objects of'thisinvention are:

First; to provide an improve'dpacking device forx'fruits, vegetables:and the llike by means of which the packing witha uni- 6 formly arrangecbtop layer isgreatly facilitated.

Second, :to provide ian improved packing device which greatly facilitates the packing or handlingof the articles tobe packed with 10 little'likelihoodofinjuring. f V

"Objectsgpertaining "to details and economies ofrconstruction andoperation o'f my improvements will "definitely appear from the detailed descriptionto-follow. "The in- 1 vention is clearly defined and pointed out inthe claims.

A structureembodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in'the accompanying drawing forming a part of my--application, inzwhi'ch'z i "Fig. 1 -'s a perspective view of my improved packingapparatus with" the parts in assembled relation.

is averticalsection on a line cor- "resp-ondingto line-2-2 of Figs. '1' and 3, a

layer of "fruit being indicated as it is arranged in the initial step of packing, the "retainerlbeing shown in position preparatory to the-next'step.

Fig.f3 ispaisectional View corresponding tothatofFigB witlrthe parts in position after "removal "from the diaphragm support permitting the -fruit "to assume a crowned position. i

Fig. '4 is a detail plan view with the botjtom removed.

Fig. '5 isa vertical section with the packer "arranged in *abasket, the basket being in -upright*position preparatory to "withdrawingthe packer.

Fig-f6 is a view"corresponding to "that of "Figfojafter' the packer walls have been withdrawn and prior'to removing thebottom.

Fig. .7is 'a perspective'view of one of the :side wall member-s. i

:Fig. '8 is a fragmentary j plan view of :the "bottom. I

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section corresponding tothat ofFigr- 6 Of'aISll'ghtl y modipa-ck.

'improved packing device comprises an annular frame 1 preferably formed of *fiedform of bottom designed for a 'flat'top angle iron and disposed with the "angle fa cing nwardly and downwardly, the'lhori- ZOIltEIl arm of the frame providing an :in-

wardly projecting ledge 2. The segmental side: members '3 are hinged at 4 to this-frame "and are provided with 1 inwardly proj ecting arms 5, 6 and .7, these arms :all servingthe same function butbeingof somewhat diifer- 'ent shape and arrangement they are fgiven different reference. numerals: for "convenience in description.

The arms 5 are :Asshapedwhile thearms are arranged. to overlap thearrnsfi; thus providing anopen central 'space'between these arms for .a purpose to be :pointed outlater.

"I-Iandles 8 .are provided for convenience {in handling.

The inverted conical orconcave bottom '9 .issupported upon'the frame above'the inwardly projecting arms on "the side --wa11 members. A flexible v diaphragm bottom 10 is 'secured at its outer 'edges"to "the bottom,

this diaphragm being adapted to collapse I within the bottom as shown'inFF-ig. 3=or"to be crowned upwardly as shown. in Fig. 2.

The bottom rhas a central openingQII-tO receive the supporting post'lQ, the post being mounted on a disk base .13. This-post *engages a;dislr14 secured to the diaphragm 10 so lthat when the 'parts areassemb1e'd *as shown inFigJ 2the diaphragm {is supported in an upwardly crowned positionpermitting the packing of fruit or-other articles congventionally indicated at '15, beginning at the outer circle'andfilling in toward the center.

After one ormore facing layers have been packed a retaining or follower disk '16 is arranged on:the layer andthe packerlifted from the support 12"all-owing the diaphragm to collapse totheiposition shown in "Fig. 3. The packer is then filled "with the articles I to be packed, ':a basket 17 inverted overthe packer, the parts brought toupright iposition as'shown in Fig. '5 and the packer-withdrawn. The open 'sp'ace 'between the inner ends of the arms permits the operatorto place his foot uponthe bottom holding it 'firmly upon the fruit so 'thatthe fruit is not disarranged. The yielding or pivotal mounting of the segmental side members allows them toffollow the outlines-of the basket as they are "withdrawn so that when "nation of an annular frame, a plurality of segmental'side wall members pivoted on said the packer is withdrawn the fruit maintains substantially its original position and is not bruised. p

The diaphragm 10 is preferably provided with a padding 21 as is illustrated, this being of felt, wool or other suitable material, and yields so that the fruit is not bruised by pressureon the bottom. Further, with the bottom in the position shown in Fig. 6

thebasket is shaken down to settle the fruit into position and this padded bottomeffectively holds the facing layer, at, the same time allowing the fruit to adjust itself during this shaking down operation.

In the packing of fruit for storage or the like itis desirable to secure What is known as a flat pack; A bottom suchas is shown in Fig. 9 is then provided, the bottom 18 having a diaphragm 19 of limited crowning movement. 'The disk 20is preferably substantially larger than the disk 14. i

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I have found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate'or describe various modifications or adaptations as I believe the 7 disclosure made will enable those skilled in the a flexible diaphragm secured to said bottom 7 adjacent the periphery thereof and having a central disk alined with the opening in said bottom, a support for holding said dia' phra'gm in an upwardly crowned positioir projecting through said opening in said bottom to engage said disk on sald diaphragm. and a retaining plate for holding a layer of packed articles in position as the bottom is withdrawn from said support.

2. In a basket packing device, the COlIlbl frame and provided with inwardly project:

J ing arms, a concave bottom having a central opening removably supported on said frame,

is a flexible diaphragm secured to said bottom adjacent the periphery thereof, and a supportvfor holding said diaphragm. in an upwardly crowned position pro eot1ng through said opening in said bottom.

, A basket packing device comprising movably mounted side wall members, a removable concave bottom having a central opening, a flexible diaphragm secured at its vtaining plate for holding a layer of packed articles in position as the diaphragm collapsesupon the withdrawal of the bottom from said support.

4. A basket packing device comprising movably mounted side wall members, a removable concave bottom having a central opening a fiexible'diaphragm secured at its periphery to said bottom and having a central disk alined with the opening in said.

bottom, and a support for holding said diaphragm in an upwardly crowned position disposedthrough said opening in said bottom to engage said disk on said diaphragm.

5. In a packing device, the combinationof wall members adapted to receive a basket in inverted posltlon, a concave bottomrremovably associated with said side wall members,

a flexible diaphragm secured at its periphery to said bottom, and means for temporarily.

supporting the center of said diaphragm in an elevated position permitting the collapsing thereof to crown a layer of packed articles, for the purpose specified.

6. In a packing device, the combination with an annular frame, of a plurality of segmental side members pivotally mounted on said frame and provided with inwardly projecting arms limiting the swinging thereof, said arms being arranged to provide a cen-v tral opening between theirinner ends, and a removable bottom.

7. In a packing device, the combination with an annularframe, of a plurality of segmental side members pivotally mounted on said frame and provided with inwardly projecting arms limiting the swinging thereof, and a removable bottom. I V

8. In a packing device, the combination of an annular frame, a plurality of segmental side wall members pivotally mounted thereon and provided with supporting arms projecting inwardly below said frame, and a bottom loosely arranged on said frame above said arms.

9. In a packing device, the combination of side members adapted to receive a basket in a retaining plate for holding packed articles in position as the diaphragm is collapsed.

11. In a packing device, the combination of abase, a plurality of side members piv otally mounted on said base, means for bolding said side members in erected position to receive a basket permitting limited 1ndcpendent movement of said side members on cles'when the device is Withdrawn from a basket arranged thereon.

In Witness WhereofI have hereunto set my hand. I

WILLIAM A. BREQKON, 

